05SANJOSE2611

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002611

SIPDIS

WHA/CEN

EB FOR WCRAFT , BLAMPRON
E FOR DEDWARDS

WHA/EPSC FOR KURS , LGUMBINER

STATE PASS TO USTR FOR RVARGO, NMOORJANI , AMALITO
E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS

SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF CAFTA-DR BY PRESIDENTS BUSH AND
PACHECO AT SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

1.1 . Summary: On November 5, 2005, all of the major Costa

Rican dailies ran stories based on comments made by
President Pacheco and Foreign Trade Minister Gonzalez about
the meeting with President Bush the day before on the
United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) . The general themes of the
reported comments made by President Pacheco and Minister
Gonzalez were that President Bush showed great respect for
Costa Rica's democratic processes and the U.S. was not
pressuring Costa Rica to hasten CAFTA-DR ratification.
President Pacheco's readout emphasizing "respect" made for
a very positive pro-Costa Rica spin to the reports of the
meeting. End Summary.

1.2 . President Pacheco commented about his meeting with
President Bush in a press conference in which the leaders
of the Central American countries took part on November 4,
1.2005. The press reported that the meeting with President
Pacheco was President Bush's first event of the day that
later included the official opening ceremony of the Summit
of the Americas. Much attention was given to the fact that
President Pacheco sat next to President Bush during the
opening of the Summit in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

13. President Pacheco and Minister Gonzalez were reported
as saying that President Bush is paying special attention
to Costa Rica with respect to CAFTA-DR. President Pacheco
said that he explained that Costa Rica is a country that
goes at its own pace, that has its own way of doing things,
and that is something that should be respected. Minister
Gonzalez said that President Bush repeated several times to
"take your time" and "you are doing all right" with respect
to how Costa Rica was proceeding on CAFTA-DR. (Note: Both

phrases were quoted in both Spanish and English in the
articles. End Note.) The officials said that President
Bush expressed confidence that Costa Rica would eventually
be part of the free trade agreement. The reports added
that President Bush at no time pressured Costa Rica to
hasten the approval process and was very respectful of the
Costa Rican democratic process.

LANGDALE